I think I mentioned this before. The US Council of Catholic Bishops write movie reviews, and they have a pretty comprehensive database. Dogma was on the TV today, and I was curious. They gave it the down thumbs, mentioning “unfunny proceedings” (boo), “anti-religious buffoonery” (duh) “substance abuse” (cigarettes? beer?) and “absurdity in poking fun at biblical characters” (well, yes).

I think they missed an opportunity to enter a conversation on some of the actual points raised by the movie in between the substance abuse and fun poking – is there a conflict between ideas and beliefs? spirituality and religion? – but maybe that would be too much to ask of a movie review. Or Catholics.

They had a lot to say about “Hero”, mostly positive.

Best though, was the acidic review of Anaconda 2.

Made sillier by the fact that anacondas are not indigenous to Borneo, director Dwight Little’s sequel manages to squeeze out a few cheap screams but, for the most part, the cheesy dialogue is scarier than the hokey computer-animated constrictors and the best acting is done by a rhesus monkey.

Well put, US Council of Catholic Bishops, well put.